Automatic vehicle-top.



R. A. KUFFMAN..

AUTOMATIC VEHICLE TOP.

APPLlcMloN FILED MAR. 24I 1916.

Patented May 15, R91?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. A. KUFFMAN.

ALWOMATIC VEHlCLE TOP.

APPucATfoN man ma. 24, 191s.

ffy, ,2.

/f/ new Twan' RALPMA fm UFF/MAW L I` A. KAUTFMAN, 0F WATERLOO, IOWA, ASSIGNOR, BY MSN-'E ASSIGNMENTS, 0F

ONE-EALFTO EARL VON GSTEBHELDT, OIF DES MOINES, IOWA.

A'cfronmrc` vEHIcLE-Tor.

madera.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented May is, ieri.

Application mea March 24, 191e. seriauvo. tasca.

citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and

l resident of Waterloo, Blackhawk county,

Iowa, have invented a new and useful Automatic Vehicle-Top, of which the following is aspeciiieation.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for raising and lowering an extension vehicle .'top by mechanical means.

clutch device.

A further obj-ect of this invention is to provide an improved construction for an extension top frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved. construction and arl rangement of yielding pressure devices for automatically expanding and extending a top frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for latching an Y extension top in contracted position.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of'elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompany-- ing drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a vehicle equipped with my improved top, except the latch for the top which is omitted to economize space, the outlines ofthe top cover being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a rear 'elevation of a portion of the upright bow and 'connected devices. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section illustrating one set of telescoping devices in contracted position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly section, villustrating the top latching devices.

lin the construction of the device as shown the numeral 16 designates generally the body of a vehicle, which may be of any having the usual yoke shape, ismounted adjacent the rear endportionv ofthe body 10 and is securedat its ends to saidbody by pivots 13, one of which is shown. Collapsible frame devices are carried by the bow 12 on opposite sides of said bow and above the body 10, andare adapted to be extendedfmateriallyforwardly of said bow and carry a. flexible 'top cover 14, indicated -by dotted lines in Fig. 1, above said body, and are also adapted to be Vcontracted toward said bow and be folded therewith at the back of the body 10. It is to be understood that the collapsible frame devices on opposite sides of'the bow 12 are identical, one set only being shown in the drawing. In the drawing herewith the collapsible frame members comprise three sets 15, 16, 17 of telescoping members, the largest and rearmost member of the rear set 15 being secured rigidly to the inside ofthe bow 12 and adjacent but spaced slightly below the top thereof, and being closed at its rear end and open at its forward end to receive the other members of the set, which members gradually reduce in size so that they may all be telescoped within said rear member. The rearmost member of the intermediate set 16 is secured rigidly to the bottom of the foremost member of 'the set 15, and is closed at its rear end and open at its for-l ward end, the other members of the same set -being adapted to telescope therein. The

rearmost member of the forward set 17 is secured rigidly to and beneath the foremost member of the intermediate set 16, and is closed at its rear end and open at its forward end, the other lmembers of 'the Vsame set being adapted to telescope therein. The

telescoping members of the set 16, with the exception of the forward member thereof,

purpose, the slots thereof not being shown in the drawing. 'An expansive coil'spring 19 is mounted withinY the hollow telescoping members of the set 17, impinging at its ends the rear wall ofthe rearmost member and the forward wall of the foremost member, and tends to hold said members in expanded of, are similarly constructed, for a similar ics Y .members of the opposite sets 16, to assist in supporting the top 14. o

' A hooked latching detent 26 is pivoted ony the front end of the foremost member of y the telescoping set 17, that is at the extreme forward end of the top frame, and is adapted toy engage a lug 27 Aon the top of the windshield 11,when the ytop is in extended position, to assist in holding and steadying said -top and preventingk undue vibration y thereof. f

A hooked detent 27, preferably of bell-` crank form, is pivoted on the forward end of the foremost member of the set 16, and y the hooked horizontal arm thereof is vadapted to engage the forward end ofthe foremost member of the set 17, whenin contracted position as shown in Fig. 3, and hold the members in such position vagainst the action of the spring 19. An expansive coil spring 28 is provided, impinging at' its ends the bow andthe upper arm of thek (bell-crank detent 27a, thusforcing said detent into position for holding engagement at all times, and insuringlatching engagement when the devices are brought intoy contracted position. A similar bell-crank detent 29 and spring 30 are provided at the forward end of the foremost member of the set 15, for engaging the foremost member 4 of the s et 16 and holding the same in contracted position. A similar bell-crank ydetent 31 is pivoted on the forward. kportion ofthe rearmostmember ofthe rear set 15 j and is adapted to engage theforward ,end

of the foremost member of the same set and hold the ymembers of that set in contracted positiomand the spring 32 for said l-detent j.

has its rear end abutting ark lug 33 mounted on the top of the rear memberof the set. f o An automatic back bow is provided normally extending upwardly and rearwardly f from a median point of the upright bow 12, and comprisesy a bow member'v 34, which servesto support the rear upper part of the top 14, said bow being pivoted at its ends by bolts y35`to rearwardly projecting end Aportions of sliding head members 36v (oner `only yofwhich is shown) mounted slidably within the upright portions lof the upright. bow 12, the end portions thereof projecting,

through vertical slots 37 in the rear faces of said upright portions. An expansive coil spring38 lis mounted in each side of the upright bow 12 beneath andk engaging' at its upper end the lower face of a sliding head member 36, and supported at its lower end lugs 39 within said upright bow, and

said springs serve to normally hold said sliding head members at their upper limit of travel within thebow., f

"An automatic topy raising arm 40 is pivoted at its upper end to the upright bow 12 (one 'on either side) adjacent the lower yend of the ,spring 38, extends yrearwardly and ydownwardly therefrom, and passes slidfingly through the body 10, preferably at a point adjacenty the end of the rear seat thereof. The top raising arm 40' is hollow and preferably tapers toward its upper end,

and isy adapted toghe moved rearwardly and 1 downwardly within an open ended cylinder 41 fixed, to and extending obliquely upwardly and forwardly 'from the rear part of the body 10, and inclosed within said body so as normally to be entirely hidden from view.- lt is to be understood that these deso f vices are duplicated on 'opposite sides of the f vehicle, one set only beingshown. An expansive coil spring 42 is mounted within the rful-notion ofthe springs 42` to forcey the top raising arms 40 upwardly and forwardly, and thereby raise' and hold the upright bow 12 intoy upright position as shown.

f suchas 45 may beprovided to limit fo-rward movement of the upright bow 12 and maintain the same in uprightposition.

fixed cylinder 41 and projects within the lower rear end ofy the topy raisingV arm 40, rand abuts at its ends lugs 43, 44 xed respectively within said members. It is the stabilizing cables 46, one of which is shown, are fixed to the topportion of the 1 f back bow-34,` extend forward, and are fixed to theiupright arms of the bellcranks 31,

the outer end of said back bow. Stabilizing cables 48 yare fixed tothe upper portion of the bow712, extendy forwardly, and are connected to the upper arms of the bell-cranks 29, and stabilizin cables 49 areixed to the upper pbrtion 'o the top bow 24, extend forwardly, and are connected to the upper tion of4 these stabilizing cables to steady and support the topy frame yfrom the upright bow, yand limit forward movement of the telescoping frame members. A stabilizing cable 50 y(or pair of them) also extend from the top bow 25 to the forward end portions of theforemost telescopingrmember ofthe An operating cable 51-is fixed at one endy '.toftheforward end `portion of the foremost telescoping' member of the set 17, that is,'

andy stabilizing cables 47 connect the upper 'y portion of the said back bow to the upper portion of the upright bow 12, and supportk `arms of the bell-cranks 27a. lt is the func i to the forward end ofl theL extension top frame, extends rearwardly in ya horizontal iso plane, enters the upright member 4of the upright bow 12, passes around a direction pulley- 52 therein, passes downwardly, through the sliding head 36, spring 38, and

' around a direction pulley 53, then enters 'extension top. For this purpose l have shown a drum 55 mounted for rotation in the frame' of the vehicle, to which is attached the opposite end of the operating cable 51, and on which said cable is adapted to be wound. The drum 55 preferably is provided with suitable clutch-controlled driving connections (not shown) with the power plant of the vehicle, which driving connections may be of any suitable character, and formno part of my present invention. A

clutch lever 56 in connection with the clutch of the drum 55 may be connected by a rod or link` 57 to a lever 58, which is located within reach of the operator, and may be oscillated by him to engage the clutch and e'ect a rotation of the drum and consequent draft on the operating cable 51.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the top bow 25 is hollow, and the stabilizing cable 49 passes through relatively small apertures 59 therein, and has fixed to it, within said bow,

a stop member 60 of larger diameter than said holes, thus limiting movement of said cable in both directions.

- said. members are completely .telescoped' When draft is applied on the operatingY cable 51, the latch 26 having been released manually, the first effect a movement to the rear of the telescoping members of the set 17, and lthis movement continues until within one another, as shown in Fig. 3. When the members of the set Y17 have reached their rearmost limit of motion, a continuation of draft on the cable 51 will have the effect of moving rearwardly the foremost member of the set 16 of telescoping members, to which foremost member is rigidly secured the rearmost member of the forward set 17. Such movement has the effect of slacking the stabilizing cable 49 to the extent of the limit of movement of the stop member 60, which moves to the position shown in Fig. 3, permitting the spring 28 to operate on the detent 27a, causing said detent to assume a latchingl position relative to the contracted members of the set 17, and hold them in such contracted position. Further draft on the cable 51 has the effect of contracting,'in turn, the members of the sets 16 and 15, and latchingV them in such position, in asimilar manner. The telescoplng frame members having all'been contracted, further draft on the cable 51 will result in a rearwardoscillation of the upright bow 12, to which therearmost of said telescoping members is rigidly secured. This movement causes an oscillationvofthe rear bow 34 on its pivots 35, bringing it into. approximately parallel relations with the upright bow 12, and these^ bows are together moved rearwardly and downwardly to the common position of folded topa-adjacent the rear part of the body 10. It. is to be -understood that the flexible top cover 14 is folded and compacted duringsuch operation, in a common manner. drawn downwardly in the upright portions of the 'bow 12, contracting the spring 38,

the projecting portions'of said heads mov- Ving downwardly in the slots 37. As the npright b ow 12 is oscillated the top raising arms 40 are forced within the cylinders 41, thus contracting the springs 42 and placing them under tension.

Any' desired means may be provided for latching the top in the contracted or folded 53.

lposition described, supplementary to the holding action of the cable 51, and to this p end a latch 6l-is pivoted on a transverse horizontal axis 62 at the rear of the body 10, preferably being mounted on a bracket y,

69 extending rearwardly from said body, and is formed with a forwardly looking hook at its end adaptedto engage the upright bow 12 at times, and hold the same in At the same time the heads 36 are its lowermost position. A tension arm 63 is 33.;

pivoted at one end to an intermediate portion of the latch 61,7extends-rearwardly and downwardly, and has its end slidably mount,

Ved in a casing 64, in which is mounted an expansive spring 65 adapted to eng-age and :3

apply tension to said arm 63 for the purpose of holding the latch 6l forwardly 1n engaging position with the bow 12. A releasing cord 66 is fixed at one end to the Alatch 61, passes down through the tension i1 c arm 63 and casing 64, thence passes forwardly to a place convenient to the operator of the vehicle. The forward end of the cord 66 may be provided with a ring or knob such as 67, supported by a bearing 68 il;

through which the cord pases, thus limiting rearward movement of the cord. Draft may be applied to the forward end of the releasin cord 66 to the end of oscillating rearwar ly the latch 61, thusV releasing it 113 from engagement with the bow 12. When this is done the whole top' is free to assume anvupright or extended position, and the springs 42 and 37 act, in the first instance, to propel the upright bow 12 and members carried thereby to upright position, and to force upwardly the heads 36 and rear bowv 34, said rear bow vassuming its oblique position by force of gravity, as limitedfby the cable 47. The springs 19 then act to extend i.;

in turn the several sets of telescoping memy bers 15, 16 and 17, the latches 31, 29 and 27 a beingreleased successively rto permit such extension. kThe weight ofthe rear bow k34 first applies draft on the cable -46 to the end of releasing the latch 31 and permitting the members 15 to expand,andt his draft on the cable 46 is continued until full' compression of the spring l32 takes place, and thereupon further movement of the rear bow is prevented, by cable 47. As soonas the telescoping members Iof the set 15 have reached their forward limit of movement astrain is applied on the cable 48, as limited by the stop 6C within the bow 24, and such strain causes a releaseA of the latch 29, thus permitting the members of the set 16 to be extended under the influence of they spring therein. As soon as these members reach their limit of movement a strain is applied ony the cable 49, as limited by the stop y60 within the bow 25, and the latch 27a is releasedto the end of permitting kexpansion of the forward'set 17, whichis limited by the cable 50. The cover'14 is of course carried by the frame members in such move,-

ment until it assumes lits ynormal position over the body, and the devices are then rendered stable in such position by engagement of the latch 26 with the lug 27 on' the windshield. f

Thus the only effort required on the part of the operator to raise the topto extended posit-ion is to apply draft to the cable 66 for the purpose of releasingthc latch 61; and the only effort required to contract or fold the top is to apply pressure to the lever 58 to engage the clutch and permit the drum to wind up the cable 51 and compact the frame members as described. f

I claim as my invention- 1. A vehicle top, comprising an upright bow pivoted at its lower end, a springpressed member pivoted to said bow and acting to raise it to upright position, telescoping members carried by and extending l yforwardly from said upright kbow, yielding pressure devices acting normally to expand said telescoping framemembers, and a flexible cover carried by ksaid bow and frame members.

'2.A vehicle top, comprising an upright vices acting normally to expand said telescoping members, means for latching said, rr

telescoping members incontracted position, anda flexible cover carried by said bow and frame members. v

3. A vehicle top,`jcompiising an upright bow pivoted at its lower end, a springpressed member pivoted to saidbow and acting to lraise it to upright position, telescoping frame members carried by said bow in horizontal position, yielding pressure devices acting normally to expand vsaid telescoping members, means for contracting said telescoping members, and means for latching said telescoping members in contracted position.

k4.vv A vehicle `top, comprising an upright kbow pivoted at its lower end,y a spring- 'y pressed member actmg to raise saidA bow to vertical position, telescoping members fixed at right angles to said bow, yielding pressure devices acting normally to expand said telescoping members, means for contracting said telescoping members, 'means for latching said telescoping members in contracted osition, and ymeans v for automatically re easingsaid latches. y

5. A vehicle top, comprising an upright bow pivoted at its lower end, a spring-y pressed member pivoted to said bow and acting to raise it to upright position, a rear bow pivotally and slidingly connected to said 'upright bow, telescoping frame members carried by said upright bow, springs acting to expand said telescoping members, and a liexible cover carried by said bows and frame members.

. and draft means for contracting said telescoping members and folding said bows.

7. A ykvehicleitop, comprising an upright bowy pivoted at its lower end, a springpressed member pivotedy to and acting to raise said bow, a rear bow pivotally and slidingly connected to said upright bow,

telescoping frame members carried by`said upright bow, springs acting to expand said frame members, draft means for contracting said telescoping members, and folding said bows, and means for latching said members in contracted and folded position.

8. A vehicle top, comprising an upright bow pivoted at itslower end, spring-pressed means Lfor raising said bow to upright posin tion, folding frame members carried by said bow.A springs acting to extend saidfolding frame `members, means` for latching said members in folded position, and draft means for contracting said frame members.

9. A vehicle top, comprising an upright bow pivoted at its lower end, a springpressed member pivoted to and acting to raise said bow, a rear bow pivotally and slidingly connected to said upright bow, a spring acting to raise said rear bow, telescoping frame' members carried by said `upright bow, springs actingto expand. .said frame members, draft means for oon-l tracting said telesooping members yand folding said' bows, and means for latehing said members in oontractedand folded position.

10. -A vehicle top, comprising 'an`up'right bow pivoted at. its lower en d, -a spring-v pressed member acting to raise said (bow to Vertical position, `telescoping -members a1'- ranged in sets, the rearmost set being carried by-said upright,l bow and carrying in turn another' set, yielding pressure devices acting i' Witnesses:

normally to expand`- said teleseoping memor bers, detents carried by' forward ends of each set of telescopingmembers and adapted .to 15 RALPH` A. KAUFFMAN. 1 

